Automatic boiler feed return apparatus



Sept. 21 1926. 1,600,436

J. R, SWANSON AUTOMATIC BQILER FEED RETURN APPARATUS Filed May 12, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 21 1926.

1,600,436 J. R. SWANSON AUTOMATIC BOILER FEED RETURN APPARATUS Filed May 12, 1924 :s sheets-sheet 2 63 9 6 INVENTOR.

A1 ATTORNEY.

Sept. 21 1926.

J RI SWANSON AbTOMATIC BOILER FEED RETURN APPARATUS Fil d M l9 e ay 12 24 l 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

I WM

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

tim orries.

JOHN B. SVANSON, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC FEED RETURN APPARATTJ'S.

Application filed May 12,

My invention has reference to an automatic feed'return apparatus, and aims to improve and simplify a similar device for which application for Letters Patent of the 5 United States was filed by myself Nov. 17,

1921, Serial No. 515, 995. The chief purpose.

af the invention is to provide a means for automatically forcing a quantity of water into the boiler of a steam plant, the operation beingaccomplished by means of a double pumping system, the action of which is practically continuous;

Another purpose thereof is to do away with the use of'pistons, such as are commonly employed in water return systems,

and eliminate the necessity of frequent oiling of the operative parts, so that when the machine is in operation it will require practically no attention.

. Another feature thereof is the provision of a system of water control valves of a novel arrangement, through which the water will be admitted to the compression tanks, and

which will prevent the return movementof the water from such tanks below a desired level. By such arrangement the number of valves used is reduced to a minimum, only four of such valves being employed where it has heretofore been found necessary. to use at least six. I

Included in the device is a steam valve control of substantially the same construction as is set forth in said former application, with some minor changes to add to .35 the efficiency thereof. The initial movement of steam from the controlling mechanism to the compression tanks is under the control.

of valves of special construction, by which said valves are locked in closed position at such times as it is desired to bar the passage of steam to the tanks. These valves are automatically operated by the water entering the tanks, upon a full charge of such water being received therein. By the use of said invention it'is possible to secure one hundred; per cent capacity, which cannot be done with any of such devices now in use.

. vWhile the invention has been specially designed for use in connection with the return 1924, Serial No. 712,744.

system of a boiler, it is not necessarily limited thereto, but may beadapted for use with compressed air or other liquid or fluid force. One of the uses to whichit may be putis for a water pumping system in a mine, and other places where it is desired to elevate aquantity of water from one stage to another. In the drawings Fig. 1 shows the invention in front elevatron.

2 is a vertical section of'the tank 2, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the steam control cylinder and mechanism therein.

Fig. i is a section of the lower part of the tank 2 and valve control devices associated therewith.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the valve casing, on the line 55 of Fig. 7. Fig. 6 is a similar view on the line 6-6 ofFig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the base 14;. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the valve=plate 15. Fig. 9is a plan view of the cap-plate 16. The reference number 1 indicates a base, upon which is supported a pair of tanks 2 and 3, designed to alternately receive a supply. of water and discharge the same into a steam boiler, or into an intermediate pumping apparatus connected with said boiler. The tanks 2 and 3 are provided with domes 's 4 and 5, connected by pipes 6 and 7 witha steam cylinder 8, in communication through a pipe 9 with the steam supply of the boiler with which the invention is used. The cylinder 8 contains valve control mechanism which as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. The ends of the cylinder 8 are alsoc'onnected with the domes 41 and 5 by relatively small pipes 10 and 11, the purpose of which will be hereinaftermore fully explained.

Supported at a point equidistant from the tanksQ and 3 is a valve casing, compris inga base 14, valve-plate'15, and cap-plate 16, all of which parts are securely united by bolts-or similar means. The base 14 is di- 95 vided by partitions 17 into endcompartments 18 and 19, and a central space which is subdivided by a partition 20 into com- 'partments 21 and22. In'the floor of the V chamber which a quantity of water is introduced into the valve casing under a moderate degree of pressure. In the floor of the compartment 22 is a. discharge opening 24, through which connection is made with a boiler, below the water line therein, or with an auxiliary return apparatus, similar to the one setforth herein, and which is in turn connected with the boiler. In this arrangen'ient one of the machines would be supported at a point below the boiler, and the other one on a level with such boiler.

The compartments 18 and 19 are provided in their floors with openings and 26, through which communication is made through conduits 27 and 28 with openings in the lower ends of the tanks 2 and 3. Upon entering the chamber 21 the water passes upwardly through either an opening 29 or opening 30 inthe plate 15, which openings are provided with poppet valves 31 and 32. It'will be understood that the movement of the waterthrough the valve casing will be of an alternating character, and that when the water is flowing into one of the tanks the steam pressure in the companion tank will prevent the entry of water into the same. The openings 29 and 30 connect with passages 38 and 34, formed by enlargements 35 and 36 in the plate 16, the other ends of said passages communicating, respectively, through openings 37 and 38 with the com partments 18 and 19 Assuming the valve 32 to be closed by pressure from above, the

' water will pass through the opening 29,

passage 33, and opening 87 into the chamber 18, from which it will continue through the conduit 27 to the tank 2. If the tank 2 is under steam pressure the movement 01 the water will he in the opposite direction, into the compartment 19, and through the conduit 28 into the tank When the tank 2 is filled with water, and a supply of steam is admit ed thereto, the water is forced back through the conduit 27 into the compartment 18, from which it passes upwardly through an opening 39 in the plate 15.' Said opening is normally closed by a valve 40, provided with a valvestem 41. Said valve is opened by the force of the water and enters a space 42 in an enlargement43 of the plate 16, from which it passes through an opening 47 into the space 22, and from thence through the discharge opening 24'to the boiler.

The compartment 19 has a similar opening 44, fitted with a valve 45, having a stem 46. The return current of water from the tank 3 enters the compartment 19, passes through the opening 44 into the passage 42, and thence through the opening 47 to the 22, "from whence it proceeds through the opening 24 to the boiler.

When the water is returning through the valve the force thereof tends to keep the valve closed, and in the same way the force 01" the water returning from the tank 8 tends to keep the valve 40 closed. To prevent the water from being driven entirely from the tanks, so as to permit steam to enter the valve casing, I provide a positive locking means for the valves 40 and 45, such mechanism for the tank 2 being shown in F 4, the mechanism for the tank 3. being identical therewith, and therefore not illustrated. In said figure the conduit 27 is shown provided with an inclined floor at 48, forming a. space within which is a lever 49, tulcrumed as at a to the casing, and connected at its inner end with the stem 50 of a float 51 in the lower part of the tank2. Projecting upwardly from the float is a guide rod 52, slidable in an opening in a bar 53, fixed at its ends to the tank2. A lever 54 is fulcrumed in the compartment 18, as at 6, such lever being connected with the lever 49 by a rod 55, which is threaded at its upper end, and fitted with an adjustment nut 56. The lever 54 also has a loose connection with the stem 41, of the valve 40, the lower end of the stem 41 being threaded and fitted with a nut 58, upon which the lever rests when in its lowest position, holding the valve tightly in its seat. ,Upon the tank 2 being nearly emptied the float reaches its lowest position, closing the valve 40, and holding the water at'a desired level invthe lower part of the tank. This forms a trap,

preventing the steam'from passing downwardly out of the lower part of the tank. When the tank 2 is again filled with water the float raises again, liftin the levers 49 and 54, but without disturbing the valve 40, which ist'ree toopen upon the water returning from the tank. -Adjustments can be made by either the nut 56 or nut 58 to cause a proper seating of the valve 40. To accomplish this it is only necessary to remove the cap-plate 16.

It will be observed that the entire movement of water into the tanks, and the return of such water therefrom is controlled by four valves, and that these valves are all seated on the plate 15, which can be readily detached for the purpose of repairing or replacing such valves.

The cylinder 8 contains a. compound piston, having hollow heads 60 and 61, united by a sleeve 62. Within said heads are plungers 68 and 64, united by a hollow rod, in which is fixed a rod 65, the ends of which project beyond the plungersin each direction, and extend through openings 66 and 67 in the heads 63 and 64, the diameter of said openings being somewhat greater than that of the'rod 65. Steam entering the central part of the cylinder 8 from the boiler through the pipe 9 is permitted to pass through openings 68 in the innerends of the heads 61 and 62, thence through perforations cylinder. A slide valve'is operably'connected with the sleeve 62, and'is adaptedto alternately open and close the pipes 6 met,

upon successive movements of thepiston.

When one of said pipes is in communication with the body of the cylinder 8, the other one is connected through a passage'71 in the slide-valve with an exhaust-pipe 7 The pistons 60 and 61 also alternately open and close the openings to the pipes 10 and 11.

In the position of the parts shown in Fi 3, the pipe 11 is closed at a point not shown in said figure, a resistance being thereby offered to the movement of the piston in the direction of said pipe. Upon such pipe being opened, however, the pressure is relieved, and steam passes through the openings in the head 60, and between such head and the end of the cylinder, forcing the piston to the other end of the cylinder. As the piston nears the end of its stroke the rod 65 comes in contact with the cylinder head, causing the plunger 63 to close the opening 66, and shutting off the steam. An abrupt stoppage is prevented by a cushion of steam between the head 61 and the cylinder-head. By this movement the pipe 6 is opened, and a volume of steam admitted to the tank 2, forcing the water therein into the boiler.

The pipes 10 and 11 are for initial operation of the steam, and are crossed, the pipe 11 being connected with the dome of the tank 2, and the pipe 10 with the dome of the tank 3. The control devices therefor are identical, and, as shown in Fig. 2, embody a valve casing 75, .fixed in the dome 4t, and connected with the pipe 11. Said casing contains a valve-seat adapted to be closed by a slide 77, connected with the movable end of a toggle-lever 78. Connected with said toggle-lever is the stem 79 of a float 80, which is capable of being elevatedby the water when it nears the top of the tank. This opens the valve and starts the movement of the steam control devices. Upon the water receding the float moves downwardly, bringing the parts of the togglelever into approximately a straight line, and seating the valve 76. The lever, when in this position, forms a lock for the valve, so that accidental opening of the same is impossible.

Extending downwardly from the float 80 is a guide-pin 81, slidable in an opening in a bar 82, fixed at its ends in the tank 2.

It is believed that from the foregoing description the operation of the machine will be apparent. In brief, when the steam pressure is removed from one of the tanks the water enters the same, the water in the other tank being coincidently forced out and in the direction of the boiler. This movement is then reversed, the movement of the intoith e tanks and "outer "the 'same being alternating one, and the supply of water to the bjoile jbeing'practically-contin'uou's. vWhat I" claim," and desire to secure by Letters "Patent, is': 125:

In" a 'device' of the e ass described, in

combination with a pair of tanks designed for the alternate intake and discharge of a 1 water supply, a valve system comprising a casing having central intake and discharge compartments, and end chambers, each independent oi the other; passagesfrom the inlet compartment to the end'chambers; a pair of valves, normally closing said passages, and adapted to prevent the rearward movement of the water therethrough; conduits connecting said end chambers independent-1y with said tanks; passages connecting said end chambers with said discharge compartment; and valves normally closing said last-named passages, and preventing a rearward movement of water therethrough.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination with a pair of tanks designed for the alternate intake and discharge of a water supply, avalve'system comprising a casing having central intake and discharge compartments, and end chambers, ach independent of the other; passages from the inlet compartment to said end chambers; a pair of valves, normally closing said paS-, sages, and adapted to prevent the rearward movement of water therethrough; conduits connecting said end chambers with said tanks; passages connecting said end chambers with said discharge compartment; a pair of valves normally closing said lastnamed passages, and adaptedto prevent the r arward movement of water therethrough; float devices in the lower ends of said tanks; and means for connecting said float devices with said last-named valves, to hold the same positively closed when the water is at a predetermined low point in said tanks.

3. In a device of the class described, a valve system designed for the alternate movement of a supply of water in one direction, and a return movement thereof, comprising a base containing intake and dispassages connecting said intake compartment with said end chambers through openings in said valve-plate, and With other passages connecting said end, chambers With said discharge compartment through openings in said valve-plate, andsaid valve plate being provided with set of valves normally closing a part of said openings and; preventing the return of a supply of Water from said end chambers to saidintakercompartment, or from said discharge compartment to said endv chambers.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

JOHN R. SWANSON. 

